Black Lesbians Found Guilty of Attack on Heterosexual Man

Four lesbians accused of attacking a man who made advances toward one of them were convicted Wednesday of varying assault charges stemming from the altercation, in which the man was seriously stabbed.

The fight started after Dwayne Buckle, of Queens, made advances at one of seven lesbians from Newark, N.J., who were walking past him outside the Independent Film Center in Greenwich Village on Aug. 18, 2006.

Patreese Johnson, accused of stabbing the victim, Dwayne Buckle, was the only defendant charged with second-degree attempted murder. She was acquitted of the charge. She was convicted of first-degree assault, which carries the same penalty as attempted murder, and faces up to 25 years in prison.

Johnson testified that they told Buckle, 29, they were not interested and he became loud and rude, called them names and threw a cigarette at them while saying sex with him would make them straight. She said he started pushing and shoving them.

Now see, I could have been jail more than a few times because men have done and continue to do that very same thing to me.  In fact, it’s funny because my friend remarked to me that she passed by my car and didn’t think it was mine because I took off my pride sticker.  I did.

Why?

I was tired of the unwanted attention from men trying to make sexual advances at me because they knew I was gay.

It happens all of the time and some of them are just rass and crude.

Last weekend while at the gas station, a guy pulled up behind me and got out and said what does that sticker mean with a smirk on his face.  I looked at him and said you know damn well what sticker means.  He started making faces at me and I turned around and got in my car and hit it.

I mentioned this week while sitting on a panel at Stanford University that women like me, women that aren’t “butch” or are “studs” and can “pass” are treated differently from our more masculine sistas. While men may treat gay men and butch women negatively, they love them some feminine lesbians.  It’s seen as sexy and a challenge.  And don’t think they’re not thinking threesome.  Hello, goodbye.

One of the students in the audience referred to it as “heterosexual privilege.”   Well, that’s one privilege that I could do without.  It’s one thing to make a pass at someone, but it’s a completely other thing to start grabbing your dick and talking out the side of your mouth about how I just need a good man, which 10 times out 10 isn’t you.

Ten years ago, Jasmyne would have been in a jail to just like these young girls had some guy done that to me.

The sad thing is, this is Black on Black crime, another form of oppression that we all too willingly participate in.  Both parties are guilty, not jut the girls.  Because in my experience as a Black lesbian living in the “hood” this happens more often than not.

Maybe next time this guy will think twice before making unwanted advances towards women who aren't interested in him, lest he get his ass kicked again.

Comments

[lacoste shoes women]

This is just wrong. An injustice was done. Those women should have been acquitted. The glbt community should get 100% behind this.

[xanax]

Please one more post about that.I wonder how you got so good. This is really a fascinating blog, lots of stuff that I can get into. One thing I just want to say is that your Blog is so perfect

[vam_the_anomaly]

Well being an Aquarius I browse ALOT of subjects on the internet. That being said I also would like to leave a few opinions. This isnt to insult anyone but rather to discuss a few things. I dont know the reactions I will get which makes posting a comment even more viable to me.

**** Warning if you get bored by long posts and keeping it real as one has experienced dont read this post, its quite long ****

Keep in mind im a heterosexual white male in his mid 30s that lives in the southern US. I will relay some real world experiences thrown in the mix as well.

First off what I would like to know is, people are people yes? Naturally alot of us dont act like civil human beings and sometimes you have to just, how can I say "get ghetto with it?" The guy didnt DESERVE to be stabbed ( which could have killed him ) but he DID deserve at least a minor ass whoopin. No doesnt mean "Yes" or "Maybe" it means NO as in "Stop" "Wont" "Cant".

Naturally Men innately are primal , even gay ones. We are coded to hunt and gather so to speak. Rejection is always a mofo but in todays times and what most fail to realize is, what seperates us from other mammals ( especially primates ) is we have the ability of LOGICAL and EMOTIONAL thinking. Once again ALOT FAIL to use this great tool as human beings. Such as the guy in the case above and even the woman that stabbed him to a small degree.

I notice alot of time gay and lesbian people are sometimes like overweight people. What I mean by this is, Why do you feel the NEED to let people KNOW with advertising items such as stickers, language etc. Not to offend but as a lesbian I feel you shouldnt have to answer to anyone about your orientation. Think of it as a job application. Does it ask your sexual orientation on it ( well unless its gettin a job at a porn studio )? Overweight people seem to follow a similar pattern "Yeah I can do that CAUES im fat" ive heard before. It seems they constantly feel the need to TELL or REMIND people of this.

This leads me to believe that homosexuals and overweight people in said example have esteem issues brought on by their lifestyles which is different from the masses. On the flip side of this I can RESPECT groups that prefer to be different.

However as science shows a creature is a product of its envrionment therefore those that are "different from the masses" tend to get herded out, disrespected, insulted or assaulted. This of course is shallow minded on the part of the masses which sometimes results in them ( as above ) gettin stabbed.

No the woman that stabbed shouldnt be acquitted. Doing so will subconciously show that violence is ok to handle people that violate your belief system. However I also dont think she should get 25 years either. By the same token before stabbing I think FOUR women can run one man off without havng to lift a finger. Hell , Ive seen ONE do it. Words and your Brain can always defuse a situation if you know how or well "handle your business"

As for black people or African - Americans I see alot of black on black violence. I used to work in a prison where the majority of inmates were black males. From what Ive learned alot of them grew up without a father figure in their life. I think everyone knows MOTHER = Primary Emotional Support with discipline and FATHER = Primary Discipline with emotional support.

Alot of these black men didnt have a father around in their lives. Naturally whites had SOME of this problem but not near as close according to statistics. Not having a father around for "Primary Discipline" forces a black woman to play BOTH roles in a childs upbringing. Theres nothing wrong with this as Ive seen plenty of good black moms but this still isnt fair to the black woman or any woman for that matter.

Speaking of fairness and back to the above violence the woman could have easily pressed a harassment charge. OR if that wasnt practical at the time...The following scenario could have went down like this ( using dialects of english IVE EXPERIENCED "Sup girl whats yo name? "Sorry im not interested" ( no need to tell him your business / sexual orientation )"Why? You dont like men? You a dyke? DAAAAMN ma fucking a man like me could make you straight!" "No, fucking a man like you is WHY im lesbian"

Now that last line right there could have been "unlady like" but not to sound like a 5th grader "He started it". His insult got countered by a witty retort that is not only embarrassing but usually ENDS the confrontation without stabbing.

However on the flip side of all my lecturing the man GOT PHYSICAL and ASSAULTED
the woman. Im not sure of the laws of self defense in NY / NJ but im pretty sure there was some self defense involved.

You DO NOT put your hands on someone you dont know in an assaulting fashion be they black , white, gay , lesbian or any combination thereof. However in closing you DO NEED to learn to assess situations and perhaps handle them differently. Violence should be a last resort. Im surprised at how people intervene AFTER violence erupts.

I hope i didnt offend anyone with my frankness but thats how I roll.

[Two Cents]

Stop making excuses for these girls. So a guy hit on them and then got into a pissing match when his pride was hurt--that's not homophobia, it's human nature. He wasn't threatening them, they weren't in any danger so there was no justification to pull a knife and stab him. End of story.

[Bernard]

Sakia Gunn, the Black lesbian teen from Newark, NJ who was killed a few years ago, was similarly accosted by a man who made sexual advances towards her. When she told her assailant she was a lesbian and not interested in him, he insulted her orientation and then stabbed her.

When I first heard this latest story, I wondered if these girls, also from Newark, may have known Sakia and remembering her incident, simply weren't having it. I wonder if there isn't a collective, community "memory" in place, where these young women have decided as a group they will not be disrespected and will defend themselves if provoked.

[Andrea]

Does anyone have the phone number of the ACLU? I am serious I think having a jury is NOT right. Has anyone thought about HOMOPHOBIA AND RACISM? Yes I know the accused is black but I think the jury could of had RACIST and HOMOPHOBIC VIEWS about black lesbians. I believe these young women this guy CLEARLY was asking for trouble. But the sentences is WAY TOO HARSH. I wonder, could the NAACP get involved. NOTICE how GLAAD or the HRC isn't saying anything sbout this. I bet if the girls were white and the accused was a black man the gay white mafia would be all over this.

[Andrea]

Does anyone have the phone number of the ACLU? I am serious I think having a jury is NOT right. Has anyone thought about HOMOPHOBIA AND RACISM? Yes I know the accused is black but I think the jury could of had RACIST and HOMOPHOBIC VIEWS about black lesbians. I believe these young women this guy CLEARLY was asking for trouble. But the sentences is WAY TOO HARSH. I wonder, could the NAACP get involved. NOTICE how GLAAD or the HRC isn't saying anything sbout this. I bet if the girls were white and the accused was a black man the gay white mafia would be all over this.

[boboso]

Mimi, common sense is anything but common.

[Mimi]

Well, I don't think that its necessary to pull a knife on someone for coming onto you, or saying something you don't want to hear.

This case is the kind that shows how thin the line is between life and death, he could have been killed and she would have been in prison the rest of her life. Words are just that, words, and while they can sting, you have to be above them and not pull a knife or gun on someone, since just what did she prove? That she threw her life away over some man? Had he threatened them with violence, I would be of a different mind set, but, this is just wrong on her behalf. Not too many women want to be hit on in a vulgar way, gay or straight, but, most of us can laugh it off and walk away, common sense since almost all men fell the world is theirs and they can have any woman they want.

[Angela]

If I had a nickel for the times I have heard "all you need is a good man" I would be rich. Too, every time I've heard that I have had to bite my tongue to not say "where?" Unfortunately, since I know a lot of straight brothers and have heard some -- not all -- of them say, particularly after the OJ trial, "some women deserve what they get because they don't know how to talk to a brother," I will continue to bite it in spite of the fact brother didn't realize those words apply to him as well.

I do remember a time when a friend and I were leaving a club and were accosted by two men wanting to know which one of us was the man. Brother was holding onto something in his pocket -- either that or he was happy to see himself -- I don't know what he had but I was fully prepared to protect queen and country if I had to if he had touched either of us.

I will say this though, my problem with the reporting of this story comes from the use of the words "lesbians." Not assailants, not women, not gang members for that matter. The papers (and reporters) seem fixated on the use of divisive words like "lesbians" convicted, "lesbians" attacked. For Christ's sake, they're women.

Dear x-pat and derrick, like I said, I am was in now way shape or form intending to offend anyone. I will say, my comment was based on the information provided for by the young lady who runs the blog, and it did not make mention of any stabbing or attacking by the man in question. If I had know about the "choking" and I don't understand why such a pertinent peace of info would be left out, when the tossing of the cig was left in, but who knows. If there was choking,than of course you do what you have to to save a life, the courts have ruled that legal. However, I would still have to know how big the other women were in relationship to the man as well. Anyway, that's me, and I have three sisters and a host of neice, none of which are lesbian, as far as I know, but I still would not want them accosted on the streets. (One man's opinion). Oh, and say what you will, I find it hard to believe that you have not ever heard that "Lesbian women already have the stigma of being overly violent". The fact that I used the word "stigma", at least in my mind, was my way of saying I have no way of knowing if it is true or not, but it is a very common believe. It is what it is. Not saying it to be mean, or condescending. just be you, that's all I believe God expects from us. God bless and stay safe.

[xpat]

Deadly force should only be used in situations of "extreme" danger. I think it is reasonable to believe that this woman was defending her friend from what she perceived to be a life threatening situation. The type of force used would not apply in this situation, only her intent.

Please also note that the woman who has been convicted is under 5' and under 100 lbs. She was likely physically unable to pull the attacker off.

Look again, this is not a perfect case but I would argue for acquittal. And most certainly this woman does not deserve a 1st degree assault conviction.

But of course I learned today that lesbians have a reputation for violence so maybe all is right with the world.

[boboso]

I wasn't there to witness the altercation so I can't be certain who was most at fault, but to stab someone who was presumably unarmed seems a bit much, doesn't it? One is legally allowed to use only as much force in self-defense as is necessary to counter the force being used against them. Without more info and absent any extenuating circumstances, I'd have to side with our legal system on this one that Ms.Johnson exceeded the force necessary in the situation and has earned her stay behind bars.

[xpat]

"Lesbian women already have the stigma of being overly violent"

I learn something new everyday.

If you read the case closely instead of simply reacting with kneejerk prejudice you would learn that the women had been walking away from the altercation when the perpetrator of the incident followed them and began strangling one of the women.

Once her face began to to turn blue the other woman, defending her friend, stabbed the man. I believe this was justified given the circumstance.

I know this is not a perfect case but I wonder how much attitudes like the one you expressed have to do with her first-degree assault conviction.

Read carefully...this case is not what it seems at first glance.

[Derrick from Philly]

"...need to take a look at themselves in the mirror..."

Oh, yes, Elliot, I have. I've got the scars of heterosexist gay-bashing violence on my face and body.

It was not just a case of ugly insults being passed back and forth. The man (if you wanna' call him that) threw a cigarette butt at them, he sexually insulted them (which is what straight bullies always do to gay women). And from the photos, it looks as if he may have been fighting some of the girls one-on-one before they responded as a group.

Until you've been in a situation where heterosexist, hypermasculine brutes behave violently or threaten to, then I think there might be "a problem there" in understanding just how savage, ruthless, and deadly straight gay-bashers can be.

It is a tribute to gay people's humanity that after years of abuse none of us have committed a Virginia Tech style act of revenge.

[Elliott Forge]

I read the story, it was interesting. I'm just trying to understand how anyone can advocate such violence. How do you let one ignorant person's advances define who you are. He says something rude to you, you say something just as inappropriate to him. Where in the equation is it okay to take a knife and cut someone, just because of what they said. No offense, but Lesbian women already have the stigma of being overly violent, why add to it? People who condone what these ladies did, and I don't care what your race or sexual orientation, need to take a look at themselves in the mirror, because there might be a problem there. On man's oppinion. God bless. One peace, one love.

[C. Baptiste-Williams]

Are you people crazy???

Patreese Johnson stabbed the man. The man could have died. Regardless of his advances, violence is never the answer. We as people need to find other ways to release our frustrations and anger.

[xpat]

This is just wrong. An injustice was done. Those women should have been acquitted. The glbt community should get 100% behind this.

[Mel Smith]

The man came on to the lesbians girls, they were not interested, he verbally attacked who they were, and they felt threatened by his advances. He started it because it was a homophobic attack; he started disrespecting their sexual orientation, after they told him to leave them alone. Those women deserved their sentences dropped. Heterosexual people disrespect us like this, all the time, and we don't deserve this type of punishment, for defending ourselves. Why did he have to disrespect them? Lesbians fight back.

[Derrick from Philly]

I hope the young women win on appeal. I'm not just saying that because this is a Lesbian hosted blog. The girls banded together to protect each other--their group. It'll be interesting seeing/reading black gay men's reaction to this story.